Switches on handlebars of treadmills

ABSTRACT

A switch for treadmill is connected to each of the two distal ends of the U-shaped handlebar and includes a base piece fixed to the handlebar and a rotatable cap which is rotatably mounted to the base piece. A variable resistor is received in the base piece and the rotatable cap is connected to a shaft on the variable resistor so that when the user rotates the rotatable cap, the resistance of the variable resistor is changed to set the function of the treadmill.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a switch rotatably connected to a distal end of each of handlebars of a treadmill.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional treadmill “A” is disclosed in FIG. 1, and generally includes a running belt unit “B” which has one end connected between two bases 10 and each base 10 includes a post 11. A U-shaped handlebar 12 is connected across the two posts 11. A panel “C” for displaying information about the treadmill “A” and two light-activation switches “D” are installed onto the handlebar 12 so as to change the speed of the running belt or the angle of the running belt unit “B”. FIG. 2 shows operation buttons D1 are installed to the handlebar 12 and face upward for convenience of operation by the players. However, the light-activation switches “D” are easily to be mis-activated by the players' when the players waving their arms. For the operation buttons D1, the players could unintentionally touch them because they are activated simply pressing them.

The present invention intends to provide switches that are rotatably installed to distal ends of the U-shaped handlebar and the switches have to be rotated an angle to function the treadmill and this efficiently prevents from being mis-operated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a switch for treadmill which comprises a running belt unit connected between two posts of bases and a U-shaped handlebar is connected across the two posts. The switch comprises a base piece having a first end inserted into one of two distal ends of the handlebar and a variable resistor is fixedly received in the base piece. A shaft rotatably extends from the resistor. A rotatable cap is rotatably mounted to a second end of the base piece and a tube extends from an inside of the rotatable cap. The shaft is connected to the tube so that when rotating the rotatable cap, the resistor is activated to set functions of the treadmill.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows conventional switches of a treadmill;

FIG. 2 shows another type of conventional switches of a treadmill;

FIG. 3 shows the switches of the present invention on a treadmill;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view to show the switches of the present invention on a treadmill;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show the switches of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the switches of the present invention, and

FIG. 7 shows the shaft of the variable resistor is rotated by rotating the rotatable cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, the switch “D” of the present invention is connected to each one of two distal ends of the handlebar 12 of a treadmill “A”. A foam outer layer 13 is mounted to the handlebar 12 which is connected across the two posts 11 on the base 10. A running belt unit “B” is connected between the two posts 11 and a panel “C” is connected on the handlebar 12.

The switch “D” comprises a base piece 30 having a tubular first end 33 and a tubular second end 34, wherein the first end 33 is inserted into one of two distal ends of the handlebar 12 and the second end 34 extends out from the distal end of the handlebar 12. A first shoulder 300 is defined in an inner periphery of the first end 33 of the base piece 30 and a PC board 40 is fixed to the first shoulder 300 by screws 43. A variable resistor 41 is connected to the PC board 40 and includes a shaft 45 rotatably extending from the resistor 41. The PC board 40 includes a plurality of notches 42 defined in a periphery thereof and a plurality of blocks 332 extend from the inner periphery of the first end 33 of the base piece 30. The blocks 332 are engaged with the notches 42 of the PC board 40 to further position the PC board 40. Wires 412 extend from the PC board 40 and are connected to the control unit (not shown) of the treadmill “A” so that the command signals coming from the PC board 40 are sent to the control unit.

The base piece 30 includes a first skirt portion 31 extending from an outer periphery of the first end 33 and a first annular groove 310 is defined between the first skirt portion 31 and the outer periphery of the base piece 30. The distal end of the handlebar 12 is inserted into the first annular groove 310 and a plurality of ridges 121 extend from an inner periphery of the distal end of the handlebar 12. The first end 33 of the base piece 30 includes recesses 331 for receiving the ridges 121.

A rotatable cap 20 is rotatably mounted to a second end 34 of the base piece 30 and includes a plurality of ridges 211 longitudinally extending from an outer periphery 21 thereof so that the user is easily to hold the rotatable cap 20 and rotates it. A tube 22 extends from an inside of the rotatable cap 20 and includes an embracing member 224 located longitudinally therein. The embracing member 224 embraces the shaft 45 and includes a protrusion 2231 extending from an inner periphery thereof. The protrusion 2231 is shaped to match with a flat surface 451 defined in an outer periphery of the shaft 45. A second shoulder 342 is defined in an inner periphery of the second end 34 of the base piece 30 and the tube 22 includes hooking ends 221 extending from an outer periphery of the tube 22. A gap 220 is defined between the tube 22 and the embracing member 224, so that the hooking ends 221 of the tube 22 can be pushed inward when passing through the passage of the second end 34 of the base piece 30 until they are engaged with the second shoulder 342. The base piece 30 includes a second skirt portion 32 extending from an outer periphery of the second end 34 of the base piece 30, and the rotatable cap 20 is rotatably mounted onto the second skirt portion 32. A distal edge of the rotatable cap 20 is rested on the shoulder 311 at a rear end of the first skirt portion 31.

The switch is installed to each one of the two distal ends of the handlebar 12 so that it cannot be unintentionally operated. Besides, the positions of the switches “D” allow the designers to have wider range of design for the handlebar 12.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A switch for treadmill which comprises a running belt unit connected between two posts of bases and a U-shaped handlebar is connected across the two posts, the switch comprising: a base piece having a first end inserted into one of two distal ends of the handlebar and a variable resistor fixedly received in the base piece, a shaft rotatably extending from the resistor, and a rotatable cap rotatably mounted to a second end of the base piece and a tube extending from an inside of the rotatable cap, the shaft fixedly connected to the tube.
 2. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a flat surface defined in an outer periphery thereof and the tube includes an embracing member located longitudinally therein, the embracing member embracing the shaft and shaped to match with the flat surface of the shaft.
 3. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first shoulder is defined in an inner periphery of the first end of the base piece and the variable resistor is connected to a PC board which is fixed to the first shoulder by screws.
 4. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base piece includes a first skirt portion extending from an outer periphery of the first end of the base piece and a first annular groove is defined between the first skirt portion and the outer periphery of the base piece, the first annular groove adapted to receive the distal end of the handlebar.
 5. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base piece includes a second skirt portion extending from an outer periphery of the second end of the base piece, the rotatable cap rotatably mounted onto the second skirt portion.
 6. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable cap includes a plurality of ridges extending longitudinally on an outer periphery of the rotatable cap.
 7. The switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein a second shoulder is defined in an inner periphery of the second end of the base piece and the tube includes hooking ends extending from an outer periphery of the tube, a gap defined between the tube and the embracing member, the hooking ends of the tube engaged with the second shoulder.
 8. The switch as claimed in claim 6, wherein the PC board includes a plurality of notches defined in a periphery thereof and a plurality of blocks extending from the inner periphery of the first end of the base piece, the blocks engaged with the notches of the PC board. 